The relationship between the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and innovative welfare practices on a local level

Christopher Rollo Larrison, Larry Nackerud, Lea Lane-Crea, Vanessa Robinson-Dooley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Part of the intention of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) was to encourage the development of innovative welfare programs on a state and local level. The Act removed stringent federal regulations regarding the design and implementation of cash welfare programs. The freer programmatic environment was to assist local offices in addressing the unique needs of their particular clients as they moved from welfare to work within a time limited setting. In an attempt to examine if this intended piece of the policy was implemented, qualitative data were collected from a statewide sample of local Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) offices in Georgia. The findings indicate that a minority of local offices engaged in innovative behaviors that were significantly different from their pre-PRWORA behaviors. Implications for welfare policy implementation and program development are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)205-219
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Volume12
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 12 2005

Keywords

  • Devolution
  • Innovation
  • PRWORA
  • Qualitative

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anthropology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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